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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Paul Omar" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <omarib999@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2014 17:47:51 -0800
Subject: Attn Sir/Madam.

Dear Rosana
 
We have the pleasure to make this surprising but mutually benefiting business proposal. I am a member of the newly inaugurated committee for the privatization of the refineries of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation. The members of the committee are interested in the importation of goods into the country with funds presently floating in the Central Bank of Nigeria / Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) foreign payments account. I got your address through the office of the West African Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
 
 
 
The federal government of Nigeria intends to lease the four existing petroleum refineries to private individuals and companies. This is to make the refineries more viable, resourceful and to eliminate undue wastage and scams and fraud activities. This privatization is in-line with the recommendations of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a prerequisite for future financial assistance.
 
 
 
The refineries are heavily indebted to many companies and my committee has the mandate (task) of compiling the names of these companies and debt owed them and also recommend for payment, all contracts that have been fully executed. With our position in the committee, which comprises of my ministry, federal ministry of petroleum resources, Nigeria National Petroleum corporation (NNPC), the federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), we have successfully secured for ourselves, the sum of US $21,000,000 (Twenty-One million United States Dollars). This sum was acquired by carefully inflating the amount of indebtedness by this amount (US $21,000,000),We need a reliable company to be included in the list of companies to be paid. This company will be paid for a contract executed in Eleme Port-Harcourt Refinery in 1999.
 
 
 
I was therefore mandated in trust by members of the committee, to seek a foreign partner into whose account we could transfer the sum of US$21,000,000, hence I am writing you this letter. We have agreed to share the funds thus:
 
 
 
1) 70% for us (the committee members)
 
2) 20% for you (the account owner)
 
3) 10% will be used in settling taxation and all local and foreign expenses that will be incurred in the course of this transaction(in which you will be involved in)
 
It is from our 70% that we wish to commence the importation business. We also need assurance from you that you will let us have our share once the inflated amount (US $21,000,000.00) is transferred into your account.
 
 
 
The payment will be done by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through its correspondent bank. What we need from you is that you provide a vital account into which the funds will be transferred.
 
 
 
Note that this transaction is 100% risk free and guaranteed since the law under which our committee was set up, has empowered us to disburse all the funds.
 
We shall commence the transfer of the funds immediately we receive the following information:
 
 
 
1) Your company name and full address
 
2) Your bank's name, telephone and fax number
 
3) Your account number and your full name as the beneficiary
 
The above information will enable us put up letters of claim and job description to the respective ministries for the issuance of the mandatory fund release approval/recommendations. This way, your company will be recognized and accepted as the beneficiary of the contract entitlements before the final remittance to your nominated account, by the Central Bank of Nigeria, being paying bank.
 
 
 
Note that we will be responsible for the payment of the federal Inland Revenue tax on behalf of your company and a contract agreement between your company and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation shall be drawn up and antedated showing that your company has a legitimate contract with the NNPC and must be paid.
 
 
 
We are looking forward to doing this business with you and solicit absolute confidentiality from you in this transaction. Please acknowledge receipt of this letter.
 
Ibrahim Omar

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